California wildfires could spell disaster for local winemakers

The raging wildfires in California pose the biggest threat to residents and communities, but they also could be putting the state’s multibillion dollar wine business in jeopardy.

Vintners nears Napa Valley are concerned that the billows of smoke from the giant Rocky fire that’s so far burned 69,600 acres in Lake, Yolo, and Colusa counties could pose a risk to their grapes since the skin of red grapes—that’s now coming in contact with smoke—is used in the winemaking process. There’s worry that the smoke exposure could result in abnormal flavors. To be sure, winemakers are sending their grapes to laboratories to evaluate if the smoke is ruining their product, the Guardian reports.